Approaching the 2009 season, not much was expected of the Maryland Maniacs. After all, they were an inaugural team.

For first-year owner Messay Hailemariam, there were plenty of questions and unknowns going forward with this venture considering he had no previous experience owning a professional football team. Despite the unfamiliarity in this field, goals were already set in place with high expectations.

“Heading into the season, I was hoping we were going to be competitive in the IFL. I knew, based on the resumes of the players that the front office and coaches put together, we would be okay,” Hailemariam said in regards to his expectations in his first season as an IFL owner.

It appeared that the Maniacs were headed for trouble, beginning the season 0-2. The team opened the year at home with a 42-24 loss to the RiverCity Rage, the current United Conference Champions. It didn’t get any easier after the team suffered a disheartening 72-41 loss to the Fairbanks Grizzlies on the first of a two-game road trip to Alaska.

Hill finished the season with a team leading 64 tackles, league leading 30 passes broken up, and 5 interceptions for 31 yards. Those are impressive numbers to post for a team that boasts the IFL’s No. 1 ranked defense.

The Maryland Maniacs, who are in the middle of a three week resting period before their postseason debut, struggled during the final two weeks of their regular season but are looking forward to returning to action on Monday, June 27th against the winner of the RiverCity Rage/Rochester Raiders first round matchup.

Here is the article I wrote covering their time off and what they expect when they return to action.

The Maryland Maniacs will attempt to regain the firepower amassed during their memorable 10-game winning streak following two crushing, season-ending defeats, the final one coming in a literally painful 64-39 loss to the Rochester Raiders, who the Maniacs had beaten twice before this season.

Maryland, who boasts the Indoor Football League’s top defense, suffered a plethora of injuries in western New York. So what exactly caused the final two-game slide?

When entering the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD, fans are instantly greeted by the official Maryland Maniacs truck parked in front of the building. It’s a nice Dodge pickup with a customized Maniacs paint job which is rather impressive.

Upon entering the arena, fans are greeted by the Maryland Maniacs Dance Team in the front lobby. There you can get autographs with the dancers and also have your picture taken with them.

Once you are on your way to your seats you can purchase items such as t-shirts, hats, posters, sweaters, programs, tank tops, and much more.

Fans are free to watch pre-game warm-ups from both teams and take pictures while absorbing the surroundings for the game.

During game breaks, fans are welcome to catch money saving coupons dropped from the game day blimp throughout the night.

Below is a blurb and a link to my article covering the Maniacs 53-27 victory on Saturday night.

The team has won eight in a row and is in sole possession of first place in the United Conference. Their final regular season home game is on June 13th. Most likely there will be one post-season home game, if not more to attend.

So come on out and see the winningest team in the area!

Maniacs Win Eighth Straight, Capture Playoff Berth

By Jake Russell

The Maryland Maniacs rolled to their eighth consecutive victory. Following their 53-27 victory against the now 1-10 Muskegon Thunder and River City’s loss, the Maniacs now have sole possession of first place in the United Conference.

The victory gives the Maniacs an automatic playoff birth in their inaugural season but it didn’t come easy. The team came out flat in the first half, putting up their second lowest performance of the season (17 points) against the Thunder. Coach Steeple must have lit a fire in the locker room because the Maniacs got on the offensive, putting up 36 more in the second half.

The offense was led by specialist Darryl Overton, Jr., (team-high 110 all purpose yards and three touchdowns), quarterback Bryson Spinner, (24 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and tossed three more) and wide receiver Terry Moss (48 rec. yards and two touchdowns).

What better way than to watch the Maryland Maniacs, from the Indoor Football League?

Playing at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD, just about half an hour away from the Nation’s Capital, the Maniacs are celebrating their inaugural season and play host to several familiar names and faces such as tight end Jason Goode, quarterback Bryson Spinner, linebacker Kevin Jones, linebacker Durrand Roundtree, defensive back Christian Varner and Alvin “Jerome” Nichols.

A former Maryland Terrapin, Goode, as you may remember, caught the Redskins game-winning touchdown in Brett Favre’s pre-season debut for the Jets last summer.

As a reserve quarterback Spinner, a former Richmond Spider and Virginia Cavalier, was on the Redskins training camp roster in 2005, as was Nichols, who was signed as an undrafted free agent defensive lineman out of Wake Forest. He is now an ownership partner of the Maniacs.

Jones joined the Redskins as an undrafted free agent linebacker out of St. Augustine’s in 2007 but was released prior to the regular season.

Roundtree, another former Terp, was acquired by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent defensive lineman in 2003 but did not make the final roster.

Varner, a former Maryland safety, started 36 of his final 37 games as a Terrapin. He played in College Park from 2004-2007.

Familiar names aside, the Maniacs also boast the best record in the United Conference, tied with their Atlantic Division rivals, the RiverCity Rage at 7-2. Starting out 0-2, the Maniacs are on a seven game winning streak and are on the verge of a playoff birth.

The winning is only a sweet taste of the fan and kid-friendly atmosphere provided by the staff. There are contests throughout the game for fans to win prizes during the game. Fans can meet and greet the players after the game. It’s a very great time overall.

I will be writing for their website during the rest of their 2009 season. There are only TWO regular season home games left. There will likely be playoff games to attend as well so tell a friend and spread the word if you need to watch the best sport in the world since the Capitals are no longer in the Stanley Cup race and the Nationals and Orioles continue to… well… you know the rest.

So Dads. Moms. Take your kids to a game! You will not regret it. It’s inexpensive and the kids will remember it forever.

Below are snippets and links to my article covering Saturday night’s 48-31 victory and quotes from the stars of the game that night.

The Maryland Maniacs continue to surge toward a playoff birth with their latest stroke of fortune coming in the form of a 48-31 victory over the Rochester Raiders Saturday night at The Show Place Arena.

The game was close after the first quarter, with the Maniacs trailing 21-14. After giving up a 7-0 lead, the Maniacs responded with a touchdown reception from Terry Moss and a missed field goal returned 53 yards for a touchdown by Jeff Overton, who was celebrating his birthday. Rochester retaliated with two more touchdowns to take the lead.

You had a great game. You had at least three passes defended, two interceptions. Have you had a game like this before?

“Not really. This was a good game for me. We need games like this to establish our dominance on the league. We’re a first-year team. Nobody really believes how we’re doing the things that we’re doing. The fact of the matter is we won seven games in a row and the way we won those seven games is by playing dominant defense, whether I make plays or someone else makes plays on that defense, it works because it all goes hand-in-hand. If I’m not making plays somebody else is gonna make plays and that’s just been the way it’s been all season long. Today was just my day. I had a good day. I thank God.”